[Python-checkins] CVS: python/dist/src/Doc/lib librandom.tex,1.15,1.16

Fred L. Drake fdrake@users.sourceforge.net
Mon, 22 Jan 2001 10:18:33 -0800


Update of /cvsroot/python/python/dist/src/Doc/lib
In directory usw-pr-cvs1:/tmp/cvs-serv24636/lib

Modified Files:
	librandom.tex 
Log Message:

Clean up the docs for the "random" module according to comments from Tim
Peters.

This closes SF bug #125919.


Index: librandom.tex
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvsroot/python/python/dist/src/Doc/lib/librandom.tex,v
retrieving revision 1.15
retrieving revision 1.16
diff -C2 -r1.15 -r1.16
*** librandom.tex	2000/12/15 19:07:17	1.15
--- librandom.tex	2001/01/22 18:18:30	1.16
***************
*** 14,22 ****
  
  
! The \module{random} module supports the \emph{Random Number
! Generator} interface, described in section \ref{rng-objects}.  This
! interface of the module, as well as the distribution-specific
! functions described below, all use the pseudo-random generator
! provided by the \refmodule{whrandom} module.
  
  
--- 14,44 ----
  
  
! \begin{funcdesc}{choice}{seq}
!   Chooses a random element from the non-empty sequence \var{seq} and
!   returns it.
! \end{funcdesc}
! 
! \begin{funcdesc}{randint}{a, b}
!   \deprecated{2.0}{Use \function{randrange()} instead.}
!   Returns a random integer \var{N} such that
!   \code{\var{a} <= \var{N} <= \var{b}}.
! \end{funcdesc}
! 
! \begin{funcdesc}{random}{}
!   Returns the next random floating point number in the range [0.0,
!   1.0).
! \end{funcdesc}
! 
! \begin{funcdesc}{randrange}{\optional{start,} stop\optional{, step}}
!   Return a randomly selected element from \code{range(\var{start},
!   \var{stop}, \var{step})}.  This is equivalent to
!   \code{choice(range(\var{start}, \var{stop}, \var{step}))}.
!   \versionadded{1.5.2}
! \end{funcdesc}
! 
! \begin{funcdesc}{uniform}{a, b}
!   Returns a random real number \var{N} such that
!   \code{\var{a} <= \var{N} < \var{b}}.
! \end{funcdesc}
  
  
***************
*** 25,90 ****
  corresponding variables in the distribution's equation, as used in
  common mathematical practice; most of these equations can be found in
! any statistics text.  These are expected to become part of the Random
! Number Generator interface in a future release.
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{betavariate}{alpha, beta}
! Beta distribution.  Conditions on the parameters are
! \code{\var{alpha} > -1} and \code{\var{beta} > -1}.
! Returned values range between 0 and 1.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{cunifvariate}{mean, arc}
! Circular uniform distribution.  \var{mean} is the mean angle, and
! \var{arc} is the range of the distribution, centered around the mean
! angle.  Both values must be expressed in radians, and can range
! between 0 and \emph{pi}.  Returned values will range between
! \code{\var{mean} - \var{arc}/2} and \code{\var{mean} + \var{arc}/2}.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{expovariate}{lambd}
! Exponential distribution.  \var{lambd} is 1.0 divided by the desired
! mean.  (The parameter would be called ``lambda'', but that is a
! reserved word in Python.)  Returned values will range from 0 to
! positive infinity.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{gamma}{alpha, beta}
! Gamma distribution.  (\emph{Not} the gamma function!)  Conditions on
! the parameters are \code{\var{alpha} > -1} and \code{\var{beta} > 0}.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{gauss}{mu, sigma}
! Gaussian distribution.  \var{mu} is the mean, and \var{sigma} is the
! standard deviation.  This is slightly faster than the
! \function{normalvariate()} function defined below.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{lognormvariate}{mu, sigma}
! Log normal distribution.  If you take the natural logarithm of this
! distribution, you'll get a normal distribution with mean \var{mu} and
! standard deviation \var{sigma}.  \var{mu} can have any value, and
! \var{sigma} must be greater than zero.  
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{normalvariate}{mu, sigma}
! Normal distribution.  \var{mu} is the mean, and \var{sigma} is the
! standard deviation.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{vonmisesvariate}{mu, kappa}
! \var{mu} is the mean angle, expressed in radians between 0 and 2*\emph{pi},
! and \var{kappa} is the concentration parameter, which must be greater
! than or equal to zero.  If \var{kappa} is equal to zero, this
! distribution reduces to a uniform random angle over the range 0 to
! 2*\emph{pi}.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{paretovariate}{alpha}
! Pareto distribution.  \var{alpha} is the shape parameter.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{weibullvariate}{alpha, beta}
! Weibull distribution.  \var{alpha} is the scale parameter and
! \var{beta} is the shape parameter.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
--- 47,113 ----
  corresponding variables in the distribution's equation, as used in
  common mathematical practice; most of these equations can be found in
! any statistics text.
  
+ 
  \begin{funcdesc}{betavariate}{alpha, beta}
!   Beta distribution.  Conditions on the parameters are
!   \code{\var{alpha} > -1} and \code{\var{beta} > -1}.
!   Returned values range between 0 and 1.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{cunifvariate}{mean, arc}
!   Circular uniform distribution.  \var{mean} is the mean angle, and
!   \var{arc} is the range of the distribution, centered around the mean
!   angle.  Both values must be expressed in radians, and can range
!   between 0 and \emph{pi}.  Returned values will range between
!   \code{\var{mean} - \var{arc}/2} and \code{\var{mean} +
!   \var{arc}/2}.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{expovariate}{lambd}
!   Exponential distribution.  \var{lambd} is 1.0 divided by the desired
!   mean.  (The parameter would be called ``lambda'', but that is a
!   reserved word in Python.)  Returned values will range from 0 to
!   positive infinity.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{gamma}{alpha, beta}
!   Gamma distribution.  (\emph{Not} the gamma function!)  Conditions on
!   the parameters are \code{\var{alpha} > -1} and \code{\var{beta} > 0}.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{gauss}{mu, sigma}
!   Gaussian distribution.  \var{mu} is the mean, and \var{sigma} is the
!   standard deviation.  This is slightly faster than the
!   \function{normalvariate()} function defined below.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{lognormvariate}{mu, sigma}
!   Log normal distribution.  If you take the natural logarithm of this
!   distribution, you'll get a normal distribution with mean \var{mu}
!   and standard deviation \var{sigma}.  \var{mu} can have any value,
!   and \var{sigma} must be greater than zero.  
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{normalvariate}{mu, sigma}
!   Normal distribution.  \var{mu} is the mean, and \var{sigma} is the
!   standard deviation.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{vonmisesvariate}{mu, kappa}
!   \var{mu} is the mean angle, expressed in radians between 0 and
!   2*\emph{pi}, and \var{kappa} is the concentration parameter, which
!   must be greater than or equal to zero.  If \var{kappa} is equal to
!   zero, this distribution reduces to a uniform random angle over the
!   range 0 to 2*\emph{pi}.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{paretovariate}{alpha}
!   Pareto distribution.  \var{alpha} is the shape parameter.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{weibullvariate}{alpha, beta}
!   Weibull distribution.  \var{alpha} is the scale parameter and
!   \var{beta} is the shape parameter.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
***************
*** 94,153 ****
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{shuffle}{x\optional{, random}}
! Shuffle the sequence \var{x} in place.
! The optional argument \var{random} is a 0-argument function returning
! a random float in [0.0, 1.0); by default, this is the function
! \function{random()}.
! 
! Note that for even rather small \code{len(\var{x})}, the total number
! of permutations of \var{x} is larger than the period of most random
! number generators; this implies that most permutations of a long
! sequence can never be generated.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  
  \begin{seealso}
!   \seemodule{whrandom}{The standard Python random number generator.}
  \end{seealso}
- 
- 
- \subsection{The Random Number Generator Interface
-             \label{rng-objects}}
- 
- % XXX This *must* be updated before a future release!
- 
- The \dfn{Random Number Generator} interface describes the methods
- which are available for all random number generators.  This will be
- enhanced in future releases of Python.
- 
- In this release of Python, the modules \refmodule{random},
- \refmodule{whrandom}, and instances of the
- \class{whrandom.whrandom} class all conform to this interface.
- 
- 
- \begin{funcdesc}{choice}{seq}
- Chooses a random element from the non-empty sequence \var{seq} and
- returns it.
- \end{funcdesc}
- 
- \begin{funcdesc}{randint}{a, b}
- \deprecated{2.0}{Use \function{randrange()} instead.}
- Returns a random integer \var{N} such that
- \code{\var{a} <= \var{N} <= \var{b}}.
- \end{funcdesc}
- 
- \begin{funcdesc}{random}{}
- Returns the next random floating point number in the range [0.0
- ... 1.0).
- \end{funcdesc}
- 
- \begin{funcdesc}{randrange}{\optional{start,} stop\optional{, step}}
- Return a randomly selected element from \code{range(\var{start},
- \var{stop}, \var{step})}.  This is equivalent to
- \code{choice(range(\var{start}, \var{stop}, \var{step}))}.
- \versionadded{1.5.2}
- \end{funcdesc}
- 
- \begin{funcdesc}{uniform}{a, b}
- Returns a random real number \var{N} such that
- \code{\var{a} <= \var{N} < \var{b}}.
- \end{funcdesc}
--- 117,134 ----
  
  \begin{funcdesc}{shuffle}{x\optional{, random}}
!   Shuffle the sequence \var{x} in place.
!   The optional argument \var{random} is a 0-argument function
!   returning a random float in [0.0, 1.0); by default, this is the
!   function \function{random()}.
! 
!   Note that for even rather small \code{len(\var{x})}, the total
!   number of permutations of \var{x} is larger than the period of most
!   random number generators; this implies that most permutations of a
!   long sequence can never be generated.
  \end{funcdesc}
  
  
  \begin{seealso}
!   \seemodule{whrandom}{The standard Python pseudo-random number
!                        generator.}
  \end{seealso}